Pneumatic spring suspension



June 9, 1925.

J. VON WALDY PNEUMATIC SPRING SUS PENS 10N Filed March 29. 192A Qwuwkoz Patented June 9, 1925.

j UNITEDl STATES JULIUs voN wALpY, orNEw YORK, N. Y.

PNEUMATIC SPRING SUSPENSION.

Application filed March 29,1924. Serial No. 702,976.

To all whom t may concern. j

Be it known that I, JULIUS VONVALDY a citizen of the United States, and resident of N ew York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Pneumatic Spring` Suspensions, of which the following .description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like Fig. 5` is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 `of Fig. 4.

Referring to the illustrative embodiment.

of my invention, I have shown an improved pneumatic suspension spring,r 1 preferably made of tubular reinforced rubberized fabric having its ends supported upon suitable brackets 2 mounted upon the vehicle axle 3 and attached at its middle to the vehicle chassis 4Q l `As shown, the spring 1 may comprise an outer open-ended tubular casing,` havingan inner tube 5 `inserted therein. The open ends of the casingare preferably .oval in cross `Section and are provided with reinforced beads 6 adapted to be clamped to the `brackets 2 `by any suitable and convenient meansl such as the oval plates 7 removably `inserted in the ends ofthe casing'. These plates are adapted to beclampedagainst the Vrbeads to4 hold theln-securely against the brackets. To prevent displacement of the beads onthe ybrackets 2, I have shown suitable flanges 8 adapted to telescope'over the ends of the casing. j j 1 The tubular casing'is preferably Varched upwards as shown in Figs, l and 2 and is reinforced in such a manner as to distribute the load over itsentire length by means disposed in or around its walls. To this end I have shown a series of braces, such for example, as the wires 9 whiclimay conveniently be embedded in the casing wall.` Each of the wires 9 is connected lat its ends to the reinforced vbeads 6 of the casing 'and some of-them cross each other midway of the Alength of the casing` as clearly shown in Y.

Fig. 5. If desired, some of them may be arranged entirely on each side of the vertical ',central plane ofthe casing and from their points of connection to `the beads, eX- tend downwardly to the central region of the casing somewhat inthemanner of suspension cords curved'to. conform to the shape of the casing.; Others of the cross wirespmayfbe connected tothe topjat one end and to the bottomatthe other end of the casing'. Due to this arrangement of braces, the ,general arch shape of the spring is maintained, and under severe shocks and jars the compression thereon places them under tension, atthe same timefexing the walls inwardly at the sides. permitting the arch to iiex downwardly because of the straightening of the wires or braces thereby permitted. l

The upperside of the cushion, as shown,

Amay beshaped to fitA in an ordinary channel.

beam such as is employed in well known lmakes of automobiles.` ,Howeverg the shape maybe "varied to adapt the spring for at` tachment to any automobile chassis. `I have shown the casing" as having `an integral or bult-up projection 10 presenting an upper wall `of substantial length fitting against and secured to the web of a channel beam of the chassis 4, whereby the chassis vframe constitutes a saddle for the spring and theV wall l against the web. and provides the necessary l lateral `stability of thechassis; l

The projection l0 of the casing may conveniently be secured to the chassis frame by any suitable securinglmeans;y In the illustrative example I have shown a transverse fastening` plate I11 passing,` through the proj ectionlO and having` openings for clamping bolts such "as the bolts 12 at each end which n are bolted at their upper endsto a bridge plate llacross the-beam vof the chassis 4.`

To reinforce theJ casing` 1 adjacent `the fastening; platellfa-nd to prevent this plate from tearing out of the fabric, I have shown reinforcing` wires or cords 14 imbedded in the casingaround the wall., and a series l,of reinforcing strands secured to the strands l5 surrounding the'` fasteningL plates l1.

These latter strands are preferably continuous whereby to add materially 'to the strength of the casing.

It will be observed that my improved pneumatic spring is so constructed that it may be substituted for an ordinary steel spring without the necessity of making any changes ineither the vehicle chassis or the axle. Thus, I have provided a pneumatic spring 4that may be manufactured and installed economically and one that will withstandrough usage. v

-Obviously,-my invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiment herein shown and described but is susceptible of various changes such as those involving alteration, omission, substitution, and reversal of parts. lVhat lf claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A 'spring for vehicles comprising a.

pneumatic elastic beam. f

"2, A spring for vehicles comprising a pneumatic elastic beam andseparated connecti'ons between the beam and vehicle.

8. A spring for vehicles comprising a pneumatic beam adapted to be secured near its ends to the vehicle running gear and supporting the load between its ends.

A Spring for vehicles cOmPlSng a pneumatic beam connected at three points to the vehicle body and the running gear, one point of connection being between the ends of the beam.

A spring for lvehicles comprising aj pneumatic casing constituting an elongated beam adapted to be secured near its ends to the vehicle axle and midway between its ends to the vehicle frame and means Lfor intlating said casing. Y

6. A vehicle spring comprisingl a pneumatic beam having rigid securing vmeansadjacentfthe ends and securing means intermediate its ends for connection to the vehicleV frame and to the running gear and means associated with the beamV for resisting downwardv lexure.

' 7. A spring suspension for vehicles comprising, kin combination, an upwardly archshaped pneumatic casing detachably connected at its ends to the vehicle axle and secured at its upper side directly to the vehicle chassis.

S. A spring suspension for vehicles comprising, in combination, an open ended pneumatic casing supported at its ends on the vehicle'axle and secured .at its top wall to the vehicle chassis, saidicasing, having lreinforcing elementsassociated.with its walls and arranged to be placed under tension due to the load, whereby to resist collapsing and to permit iiexure. v

9. A spring suspension for vehicles comprising, in combination, a pair of brackets adapted to be secured to the vehicle axle,

an open ended pneumatic casing supported beam.

10. A spring suspension 'for vehicles comprising, in combination, a pair of brackets adapted to be secured to the vehicle axle, an open endedv pneumatic arch-shaped casing supported onl said brackets, means connecting said casing directly to the vehicle chassis andreinforcing means for said casing adapted to distribute the-load over substantially its entire area whereby to form a flexible pneumaticbeam. I

11. vA spring suspension vfor vvehicles comprising,incombination, a pair of brackets secured to the vehicle axle, a tubular pneumatic Vcasing clamped at its ends to said brackets and means for connecting said casing directly to the vehicle chassis.

12. A spring suspensionfor vehicles comprising, in combination, a pair of brackets secured 'to the vehicle axle, an open ended, pneumaticcasing having reinforcing beads clamped to said brackets and means connecting said casingV to the vehicle chassis.

'13. A spring suspension for vehicles comprising, in combination, a pair of brackets secured'to the vehicle axle, a tubular casing presenting'bea'ded ends adapted to engage said brackets, clamping means removably inserted in said lbeaded ends and adapted to be 'secured to said brackets, and means kto vsecure said casing to the vehicle chassis.

14." A'spring suspension for vehicles comprising, in. combination, brackets secured to the vehicle axle, an upwardly curved, tubular casing supported solely vat its ends upon said brackets, means for connecting said casing midway of the length to the vehicle chassisV and 'reinforcing means associated with the walls of said casing to distribute the load andto permit the desired downward ilexure.. l

l5. A spring suspension for vehicles comprising, in combination, bracketsfsecured to the vehicle axle, an upwardly curved tubular casingsupported solely at its -ends upon said brackets, means for connectingsaid ed to be secured at its ends to a vehicle axle and midwayof `its length to the vehicle chassis, a plurality ofl `reinforcingv wires embedded in the walls of the casing from one end to the other, said wires being arfo'r vehicles comy Sii ranged to form suspension cords which, when placed under tension, cause deformation of the casing walls throughout the length of the casing whereby to distribute the load evenly over substantially the entire area of its walls.

17. A pneumatic spring for vehicles comprising a reinforced pneumatic casing, means connecting said casing to the running gear and the chassis of the vehicle, said casing being so arranged as to constitute a flexible pneumatic suspension carrying part of the load by end thrust and part by tension.

18. A pneumatic spring for vehicles comprising, in combination, a tubular casing supported at its ends on the vehicle running gear and having a projection on its upper side adapted to engage a portion of the vehicle chassis and clamping means for securing said projection to the chassis.

19. A pneumatic spring for vehicles comprising, in combination, a pneumatic casing adapted to be connected to the vehicle running gear and to the chassis and securing means for said casing including brackets arranged at its opposite ends and means midway of the length of the casing havinga portion embedded therein whereby the casing may be removably connected to the vehicle.

20. A pneumatic spring comprising an elongated tubular casing, tension elements partly encircling said casing and secured thereto at its ends, and means for inflating said casing with a compressible fluid.

r 21. A pneumatic spring comprising an elongated tubular casing, the middle on the one hand and ends on the other hand of said casing being provided with means for attachment, one to a supporting and the other to a supported structure, tension elements partly encircling said casing and secured thereto at its ends, and means for in-l flating said casing with a compressible fluid. 22. A pneumatic spring comprising an elongated tubular casing adapted to be supported horizontally, tension elements partly encircling said casing and secured thereto at its ends, said tension elements being disposed in curves following the contour of said casing having their lowest points at its middle region, and means for inflating said casing with a compressible fluid.

23. A pneumatic spring suspension for pneumatic casing 1 supported at its ends on the brackets 2 and connected at its top to the channel beam of the chassis 4 of the vehicle, said casing having reinforcing wires 9 embedded therein, all substantially as shown and described.

In .testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JULIUs voN WALDY. i

vehicles comprising, in combination, the Y 

